Has Your Frugality Rubbed Off On Others in a Positive Way

**forHISglory** · 09-07-2009, 03:58 PM

I read some threads here on FV about others getting rather snooty about your frugality, making fun of you, or being totally bewildered by your new decisions.

But have you had positive influence on others? Has anyone taken note of your frugal efforts and tried to emulate you? Have you become a mentor to anyone?

I have a dear friend whose husband is a top executive for a large national company. They are 6 figure income people, but some time ago, she became interested in a more frugal lifestyle. We began to have conversations about new uses, alternate uses, use it up, wear it out, make it do type of things. Although we have been friends for many years and shared many parts of our lives, the frugal lifestyle was not one of those parts. It is so exciting to now share this, too.

How about you?

**madhen** · 09-07-2009, 07:40 PM

My decision to be more frugal has rubbed off a bit on those around me, maybe more because I am not there to enable them when they want to run out and spend money than because of any great mentoring on my part.

My sister had to really fall a long way financially before she started paying attention to the way I live my life, but now I'd say she is sometimes even better than I am in trying to watch every penny! I just have myself to care for, and she has a family, so she is, in some ways, required to be muh more responsible than me, because her actions impact more people than than mine. Again, I'm not sure how much my actions directed hers, but I find we talk about saving money much more than we did, and I am now often coaching her in ways to be frugal.

**Ocean_Beach_Dweller** · 09-07-2009, 08:13 PM

I noticed one aspect of my frugal ways has been rubbing off on my coworkers. I stopped going out to lunch when I started my frugal ways, and now they have stopped too. They are both married and saving for a house and I am not, so I think they are grateful to have an excuse to bring lunch rather than going out

**vickilynn** · 09-08-2009, 07:37 AM

Well, in a funny way. People used to give me directions by telling me what restaurant to go by, now they know I don't eat out, they try to give me street names.

**shoiji** · 09-08-2009, 02:54 PM

Between myself and two other people we always impress each other with out latest thift store finds. Or the lowest price we just spent on something.

I have been able to help one person as far as getting them to think ahead to catch good sales. Or to cook more often for themselves.

Also typed up a bunch of saving and repurposing ideas. One for myself and one copy for a group of people who live on meager budgets.

**savvy_sniper** · 09-08-2009, 03:17 PM

The receptionist and dental assistant at my dentist's office always ask me what have I gotten free lately, what am I doing to save, etc. They know how frugal I am. We talked about grocery salvage stores at one visit and I took them a typed list at my next visit. They are gung ho to check them out. They have kids in high school and college; so they are happy to save money any where possible.

My step-daughter has now asked me how to pay off her credit cards. I was so proud of her this weekend. Her cell phone died and she got her old one out instead of going and buying a new one!

**tervsforme** · 09-08-2009, 03:24 PM

I've rubbed off some on my mom! She was concerned about how much her IRA has dropped and I started talking about how much I reduced my grocery bill and that I don't spend money on clothes, etc. She actually had a couple of No Spend Months during the summer. She felt really good about it. She is a shopper and always finds fantastic deals, but she just decided she didn't need anything. She is now starting to go through her freezer to use up some old stuff before it goes to waste and to stockpile some items when they are on sale.

**mauimagic** · 09-08-2009, 10:32 PM

One of my coworkers asked me to speak at her LDS Enrichment Womens' meeting about what I had discovered about frugalness in general and Frugal Village in particular.

People are more interested in mending clothes now instead of buying new ones and have come to me for help/suggestions. My coworkers seeem more interested in anything frugal that I share with them and it's a fun thing to do!!

**2ndGenGranola** · 09-09-2009, 02:49 PM

First, I must ask if my hubby counts because I have seen so many changes in his mentality. He was "Mr. Eat out every meal" when I met him. He now loves eating in. He gets a kick out of it now because I'm teaching the boys (9,7,6) to cook. The 9 /o can bake circles around me. Dh loves coming home now to try what the guys have made.

Next must be DH's coworkers. DH now takes his lunch to work most days. They are now investigating what he is eating. It is kind of funny because nothing is fancy - Black beans and rice, scalloped potatoes made with broth instead of dairy, poor man's bread with soup... They are now eating out less and using "planned overs" for lunch.

**NewLeaf** · 09-09-2009, 06:13 PM

I think my bff thinks I am just "cheap". But she has clipped a few coupons lately. My mom is getting into the couponing and salvage grocery store shopping and homemade laundry detergent. My MIL is saving me her coupons from the Sunday papers.

Today at Walmart I saw a young Mom w/baby. She had some paper towels in her cart and I had a coupon ready to expire, so I gave it to her. Her little girl said "Mommy, what is that?" I said "It's money...." We had a good laugh. But maybe this new mom will start looking closer at coupons.

I gave another elderly lady a Febreeze coupon. She was very pleased. I love helping people see that they can save money.

**forHISglory** · 09-09-2009, 09:38 PM

Do hubbies count? Well, sure! They are at least worth double anyone else, maybe more than that!

Seriously, it's great to read your stories with such positive views. Keep up the good work!

**ruby3** · 09-09-2009, 09:50 PM

My coworker told me today that I have motivated her to become more frugal. What a proud moment!

**larabelle** · 09-09-2009, 10:52 PM

My sister is finally, finally eating out less (taking sandwiches to work). She is also cooking and freezing meals to eat for lunch.

**frugalfranny** · 09-10-2009, 01:18 AM

I would like to think that I influenced a friend to finally start doing some stockpiling but not sure I can take credit for it.

She is frugal in some areas and has started eating in more, and we shop at thrift shops together. She is still adjusting and going through all the others stages of a 'fairly recent' divorce after many years. She is learning though.

Another friend has made the statement "gees, I thought I was pretty frugal until I met you" so I took that as a compliment and she said that she feels she can learn a lot from me.......so that was nice.

**ladytoysdream** · 09-10-2009, 06:51 AM

I have one son that is a lot like me. He can and will scramble to make the extra buck. He tracks his budget in a notebook a lot like I do.
I showed him my electric daily kwh log book, and he liked that.
I track the reading, the kwh for the day, weather, and loads of laundry done, and how many of them, are line dryed or put in the dryer.
He just lost his full time job due to a factory cut back. I hope I can throw some more ideas at him soon. I think he can do a lot of these things, but he has a wife, and two sons that need more working on, than he does.

My husband is doing a lot better. I still have to remind him often, that our budget is super tight, and probably will never get any better, unless a small miracle happens. I would not have to remind him so often, if he would stop coming up with things to spend money on. What is coming in, goes right back out on regular bills. If we get any extra money, it has to get spent for something we need. Like his OT last winter went for a load of logs for the furnace, a used chainsaw. He just got some unexpected money this past weekend and I told him he needs to get his hunting license with it. I cannot take the money out of what is earmarked for bills. I made the budget and we have to stick to it. We are on time each month, and I refuse to let us get behind on anything. I used to let him have whatever he wanted within reason, and then juggled the bills to keep everything paid. I won't do that again. I remind him every so often...YOU want extra things....YOU go find a part time job. I used to work a full time and a part time job. I once worked 3 part time job for a total of 45 hrs a week for just over 2 years. I can't go that kind of pace any longer. I go without a lot, and don't say much about that either to him. Not much more I can give up or change around.

His sister and his ex wife, are both in the process of losing their houses.
They did not live within their means. I try to say very little about that, but it does reinforce my line of thinking. I don't plan on losing our house.

I have done so much with so little for so many years, that the hubby thinks I pull money out of the thin air. I think he thinks I can do the impossible now with nothing ...........
I was mumbling the other day ...I did not know how we are making it now....and the hubby said....I don't know how we are making it either.
So have my frugal ways rubbed off on him ? I am not so sure. ......
And or maybe he just likes bumping heads with me.